Physical Disability Australia calls for mandatory aviation standards

Advocates for Australians with disabilities are calling for mandatory, enforceable aviation standards to replace current voluntary industry guidance. Physical Disability Australia (PDA) has submitted a proposal to the Federal Government’s Aviation Disability Standards consultation, arguing that existing rules have been largely ignored since 2002.

Passengers report significant hardships, including being denied boarding, receiving inadequate assistance, and having mobility aids destroyed. A major point of contention is the legal classification of mobility aids; currently, items like wheelchairs are often treated as baggage rather than essential extensions of the person. Advocates argue that when these aids are damaged or lost, the impact on a passenger's independence is far more severe than with ordinary luggage.

Specific recommendations include: • Treating mobility aids as an extension of the individual, including allowing them to be carried in-cabin where possible. • Allowing passengers to remain in their own wheelchairs for as long as possible during travel. • Establishing clearly defined responsibilities between airlines and airports to prevent passengers from being caught in service gaps. • Ensuring accessible bathroom availability, particularly on domestic flights where passengers currently report being unable to use facilities for several hours.